Locking yoke for sliders of separable fastener stringers



L. H. MORIN July 31, 1962 LOCKING YOKE FOR SLIDERS OF SEPARABLE FASTENER STRINGERS Filed April 5, 1960 4 C3 60 M w 55 mm t 5 2 HR M ii 1 N0 0 x w [M T T 8 M H H 2 m U Zll O 5 Y C B y y United States Patent 1 Claim. (Cl. 24205.14)

This invention relates to separable fastener stringers employing sliders movable along the scoops of the stringers in coupling and uncoupling the same. More particularly, the invention deals with a locking yoke pivotally supported on the slider for automatically locking the slider in predetermined positions on the stringers in re taining the stringers against accidental opening.

Still more particularly, the invention deals with a locking yoke having a plurality of staggered scoop engaging lugs arranged centrally of the yoke and adapted to operatively engage scoops at the coupled zone of the scoops in positively retaining the slider in locked position on the stringers.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side and sectional view of the upper wall portion only of a slider illustrating one of my improved locking yokes arranged thereon.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the yoke detached, with part of the construction broken away and in section.

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan View of the structure as seen in FIG. 2 illustrating the yoke in its formed state, preparatory for attachment to the slider body.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic outline of the upper surface portion only of a plurality of coupled scoops and illusbeing shown partially in section.

In illustrating one adaptation and use of my invention, I have diagrammatically illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawing scoop structures in connection with which my improved locking yoke operates, the structure of the scoops being covered in a companion application filed of equal date herewith and, for this reason, no complete or detail showing of the scoops is relied upon in this case, except in illustrating clearly operative engagement of the locking yoke with scoops employing the structural features which will hereinafter be briefly described.

Considering FIG. 1 of the drawing, at is shown the upper portion of a slider 11 indicating the top wall from which depends the usual web 12, the wall 11 having an upstanding pivot post 13, in connection with which my improved locking yoke 14 is pivotally mounted, the post having an aperture, as at 15, for receiving pivot studs 16 on side walls 17 of the yoke. The walls 17, in initially die casting the yoke 14, are bowed outwardly, as diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawing, to provide clearance between the pivot studs 16 to pass over the post 13, after which, the side walls 17 are pressed inwardly. in establishing the permanent pivot mounting of the yoke on the post 13. The walls 17 border an aperture 18 in the yoke for receptionof the post 13, as will be apparent. It will also appear, from a consideration of FIGS. 1 and 3 of the drawing, that the lower surface of the yoke is recessed, as seen at 19, .to forma seat for "ice a spring 20, which extends downwardly into the web 12, as will be apparent from the dotted line indication of the aperture 21 in the wall 11 and web 12.

The free end portion of the yoke 14 has an offset arm 22 supporting, at its free end, an elongated projecting bar 23. The bar 23 has a recess 24, at its upper surface, to provide full swinging movement of the yoke 14 in strikinga cross-strap 25 at the forward end of the slider 10 or the wall 11 thereof.

As well known in this art, yokes are operated by a pull, the pivot of which is arranged in the recess 26 of the yoke. However, as the pull forms nopart of the present conception, the same has been omitted to simplify the present showing. The wall 11 of the slider is apertured at its forward end, as indicated at 27, to receive the arm 22 and the bar 23 and to provide free swinging movement of the bar in the forward end of the slider. Projecting from the lower surface of the bar 23 are a plurality of lock lugs, three of which are shown in the accompanying drawing and identified by the reference characters 28, 29 and 30, the lugs 28 and 29 being off-centered.

slightly at one side of the bar 23; whereas, the lug 30 is arranged between lugs 28 and 29 and offset to theother side of the bar 23, thus producing a transversely staggered arrangement of said lugs.

Considering FIG. 1 of the drawing, it will appear that the lugs 28, 29 and 30 are normally held within the channel of the slider body 10 by action of the spring 20 or, in other words, are constantly tensioned for operative engagement with scoops of coupled separable fastener stringers.

Now turning to FIG. 4 of the drawing, in this figure, I have diagrammatically illustrated portions of two separable fastener stringers 31, the beaded edges of which are indicated at 32 and at 33 I have shown part of the scoops attached to the stringer tapes, the mounting end.

portions of the scoops having apertures 34 registering with the tape and part of the head to facilitate stitching of the scoops to the stringer tapes as and when desired and, particularly, whenthe scoops are formed of plastic material and, in practice, Delrin is preferred.

The scoops 33 include coupling end portions 35, diagrammatically illustrated more completely in FIG. 5 of the drawing. However, the interlocking coupling portions are omitted from FIG. 4 in order to simplify this s illustration. The coupling end portions 35 are disposed on what would be the lower surfaces of the scoops, as shown in FIG. 4, and extending upwardly from the coupling portions 35 centrally thereof are ribs or lock elements 36 which may be said to be arranged on the upper surface of the scoops. These ribs join the coupling end portions 35 in bevelled wall portions, one of which is diagrammatically illustrated at 37 in FIG. 5 of the drawing. The upper portion of the scoops include shoulders 38 extending laterally from the rib 36 and upper corner portions of these shoulders are bevelled, as seen at 39. It

will be understood that the shoulders 38 constitute part I tional diagrammatic showing of the lugs 28, 29 and 30 that these lugs operate in the coupled zone 40 in operatively engaging the scoops to lock the slider against movement onthe coupled stringers. In this position, the, lugs operatively engage side surfaces 36' of the ribs 36 in positively retaining the slider in locked position and,

by virtue of the staggered arrangement of the lugs 28 to I 30, it will be apparent that, regardless of the strain to which the stringers may be subjected, the locking yoke 14 will retain its locked position. This will clearly appear from a consideration of FIG. 4 of the drawing where it is indicated that the lugs 28 and 29 engage the ribs of the righthand scoops; whereas, the lug 30 engages .the rib of the lefthand scoop disposed between the two scoops of the righthand stringer, thusone set of lugs is checked by the other lug or vice versa when any type and kind of separating strain is applied to the stringers. In the strain tending to separate the stringers, it will be apparent that the lugs engage the shoulders 38. In other words, again considering FIG. 4, lugs 28 and 29 will engage shoulders 38 of the righthand scoops; whereas, lug 30 will engage the shoulder 38 of the intermediate lefthand scoop, thus retaining the lugs at all times in the coupled zone 40.

In the use of devices of the type and kind under consideration, it will be apparent that, in moving the lock yoke 14 into operative position upon the stringers, the lugs 28 to 30 of the yoke will either drop into the full line position of the lugs, as illustrated in FIG. 4, or might move into the dotted line position of said lugs, as indicated at 28', 29 and'30. When this prevails, it will be understood that, when a strain is applied to the stringers tending to separate the same, the lugs 28 to 30' will then ride over the bevelled portions 39 and automatically move into the full line position of FIG. 4, bringing the stringers into a positively locked position.

It will clearly appear, from a consideration of FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawing, that surfaces of the lugs 30 which engage the ribs 36 are horizontally flat and bear upon the fiat surfaces of the ribs 36 and, from this standpoint, can be regarded as scoop engaging surfaces. However, these scoop engaging surfaces are slightly tapered, as indicated at 41 in FIG. 1, simply to facilitate casting. The opposed surfaces of the lugs are definitely rounded, as indicated at 42 in said figure. Considering FIG. 3 of the drawing, it will appear that inner surfaces of the lugs 28, 29 and 30 are in common alinement and this alinement is centrally and longitudinally of the locking yoke and would define what might be termed the pitch line of the coupled zone.

It will be understood that, in the diagrammatic showing of FIGS. 4 and 5, representations of the lugs are not to be construed as consistent with the accurate showing in FIGS. 1 to 3, inclusive, but simply to diagrammatically portray the position of the lugs with respect to the ribs or elements 36 of the scoops.

The locking yoke 14 having staggered arrangement of lugs is particularly advantageous for use in conjunction with plastic scoops, where it is desirable to distribute the load to several scoops on the coupled stringers in the coupled Zone, thus assuring positive retention of the slider in any locked position on the stringers and avoiding any injury to the stringers by virtue of excessive strains to which the slider and locking yoke may be subjected.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A lock yoke for sliders of the character described, comprising an apertured end portion partially defined by opposed side walls, said walls having studs projecting into said aperture, the other end portion of the yoke having an offset arm terminating in an elongated extended bar arranged centrally and longitudinally of the yoke, the lower surface of the bar at one side thereof having alined projecting lugs, another lug arranged intermediate the first named lugs and disposed at the opposed side of said bar, and inner side surfaces of all of said lugs being in common alinement centrally and longitudinally of said yoke.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

